LeVar Burton--or Geordi La Forge to STTNG fans--is a wise man.
LeVar has a new blog, and it starts out with a great post. You can read it here.
He begins with how he was compelled to join the online Community at Twitter because someone stole his identity. But instead of just getting mad, LeVar got involved. His blog tells the story, so I won't go into the details here. Except to say that LeVar believes--as do I--about the importance of Community.
Whether your Community, or Tribe, is online or in your physical neighborhood, we all have a tremendous opportunity now to be the leading force of positive change. The difference is that in the U.S. today, instead of leadership being forced from the top down, our new President is calling on everyday Americans to drive change. We all are being asked to shape our world from the grassroots up.
This is a very good thing. It's how our county was built: out of the cauldron of discontent, common people forged a new nation. Before you think I'm getting a bit to patriotic or hyperbolic, just think of how our culture has made positive changes that benefit all. The best of that change has come from the grassroots up.
Now the real "Next Generation" is poised to lead a new positive force of change. As an aging baby boomer who witnessed and participated in common America's fight for civil rights, peace and love, woman's rights and more, I’m thrilled to see how our new social media--Twitter, blogs, FB, you name it--are driving conversation, positive thought and community action.
When you can reach your President through his Blackberry, you know the world has changed in a fundamental way.
Keep engaged, keep interested and keep connected; then Do Something Positive about what you care about.
That’s my mantra, too, Le Var. Welcome to the blogosphere.
Jan 31, 2009
Jan 14, 2009
My digital cultural evangalist is moving on to better things
Wow, I really have some strong mixed emotions about an e-mail I got earlier today at work.
First, was the “OH NO!” reaction. I’m truly saddened that Leah Jones, Edelman's digital culture evangelist, is leaving the company. Since we met at Edelman's 2008 Summer School in Chicago, where I drank the Kool-Aid of digital culture and communications that she so expertly mixed, I have learned something from Leah nearly every day as I plunged more deeply into the digital world. I will truly miss Leah's energy, wisdom and evangelical zeal for advancing digital culture.
On the flip side came a “Good for you!” endorphin hit. I’m very excited to know that Leah will continue to influence the growth of digital culture worldwide while working toward her dream of moving to Israel. What a great and perfect opportunity for her!
I will continue to follow @leahjones through Twitter, and on FaceBook and her blog site—so she's not rid of me yet by any means. Fair warning, Leah!
I wish you continued success in your new endeavors, my digital friend.
Fond regards, congratulations, and good luck!
Ed Schoaps
Jan 11, 2009
A close call with equine colic
Last night was scary.
My wife, Susan, got home from the Jonquil Hills Stables in south Salem around suppertime after tending to her Thoroughbred horse, Fiero.
No sooner had Susan changed her clothes then the stable owners called with alarming news. Fiero was "colicking" and if you know anything at all about horses, that brings on panic mode in the owner. She left for the stables in a rush, tears streaming.
Not knowing much about it, I Googled "horse colic" to learn more. I learned that equine colic is the number one cause of premature death of horses. Colic can range from gas (serious but readily treatable) to a ruptured stomach or twisted or intestine. Horses can't really vomit or belch, so gas buildup can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Serious gas can rupture a horse's stomach. When a horse has colic, it often rolls -- sometimes violently -- in an effort to ease the pain. This rolling can lead to a twisted or ruptured intestine, with serious complications. If surgery is called for, horses that survive are lucky; most either die from the surgery or don't live beyond four or five months after. Sobering news.
When Susan arrived at Jonquil Hill Stables, owners Heather and Jeff told her that Fiero had been rolling and screaming in pain--the worst case of colic they had ever seen. Heather managed to get Fiero to stand and walk, with considerable effort on her part.
The vet was called while Susan continued to walk Fiero in the arena and keep him calm. This seemed to help and Fiero was in less pain.
When "Dr. Mike" arrived from Silverton (about 45 minutes away from the stables), he examined the horse and diagnosed "simple colic," or basically stomach gas, and gave him an injection to ease the pain. In awhile, Fiero's symptoms abated and his appetite returned, but he could have no feed for the rest of the night and Susan had to stay with him until he moved his bowels, indicating a return to normal GI function.
After all seemed well, Susan returned home about 9:30 p.m., grabbed a bite to eat and zipped back to the stable around 11 p.m. to double-check on Fiero's condition.
A quick trip to the stable this morning by Susan found Fiero behaving normally. So all seems well.
A close call for sure, but everyone is very relieved that all turned out well.
Thank You Heather and Jeff Kline of Jonquil Hills Stables. Without your quick action, I would be writing a very different story.
And Thank You Michael A. Stewart, DMV of Silver Creek Animal Clinic, for providing fine emergency care.
My wife, Susan, got home from the Jonquil Hills Stables in south Salem around suppertime after tending to her Thoroughbred horse, Fiero.
No sooner had Susan changed her clothes then the stable owners called with alarming news. Fiero was "colicking" and if you know anything at all about horses, that brings on panic mode in the owner. She left for the stables in a rush, tears streaming.
Not knowing much about it, I Googled "horse colic" to learn more. I learned that equine colic is the number one cause of premature death of horses. Colic can range from gas (serious but readily treatable) to a ruptured stomach or twisted or intestine. Horses can't really vomit or belch, so gas buildup can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Serious gas can rupture a horse's stomach. When a horse has colic, it often rolls -- sometimes violently -- in an effort to ease the pain. This rolling can lead to a twisted or ruptured intestine, with serious complications. If surgery is called for, horses that survive are lucky; most either die from the surgery or don't live beyond four or five months after. Sobering news.
When Susan arrived at Jonquil Hill Stables, owners Heather and Jeff told her that Fiero had been rolling and screaming in pain--the worst case of colic they had ever seen. Heather managed to get Fiero to stand and walk, with considerable effort on her part.
The vet was called while Susan continued to walk Fiero in the arena and keep him calm. This seemed to help and Fiero was in less pain.
When "Dr. Mike" arrived from Silverton (about 45 minutes away from the stables), he examined the horse and diagnosed "simple colic," or basically stomach gas, and gave him an injection to ease the pain. In awhile, Fiero's symptoms abated and his appetite returned, but he could have no feed for the rest of the night and Susan had to stay with him until he moved his bowels, indicating a return to normal GI function.
After all seemed well, Susan returned home about 9:30 p.m., grabbed a bite to eat and zipped back to the stable around 11 p.m. to double-check on Fiero's condition.
A quick trip to the stable this morning by Susan found Fiero behaving normally. So all seems well.
A close call for sure, but everyone is very relieved that all turned out well.
Thank You Heather and Jeff Kline of Jonquil Hills Stables. Without your quick action, I would be writing a very different story.
And Thank You Michael A. Stewart, DMV of Silver Creek Animal Clinic, for providing fine emergency care.
On your mark, get set, blog!
I suppose that every blogger starts their first post something like this:
OK, now that that's out of the way, you should know that The Online Experiment is my way of sharing with you what interests me, what upsets me, what stops me short because of its beauty or weirdness, but most of all what keeps me going.
In daily life, I'm a PR and media relations professional.
I'm also an actor, director, scuba diver, traveler, reader, writer, music lover, technophile, sybaritic epicurean and hedonist.
Most of all, I consider myself very Lucky to have a loving wife, two adorable kids and wonderful, interesting and loyal friends.
So you'll find me writing about all these things, at least.
Oh, yeah, I'll probably post some stuff that may not grab your attention in any way at all. In that case, please check back again or better still, send me note with your suggestions. I'll do my best to keep things interesting.
Feedback helps and I encourage you to leave your comments. It helps to know you're out there, kind Reader, and that you have an opinion about what you see here and are willing to share it.
One last thing before you go: here's where you can find me on Twitter, FaceBook, Google and LinkedIn.
Thanks for stopping by.
Ed Schoaps
"Hi, Ed here. Welcome to my blog!"
OK, now that that's out of the way, you should know that The Online Experiment is my way of sharing with you what interests me, what upsets me, what stops me short because of its beauty or weirdness, but most of all what keeps me going.
In daily life, I'm a PR and media relations professional.
I'm also an actor, director, scuba diver, traveler, reader, writer, music lover, technophile, sybaritic epicurean and hedonist.
Most of all, I consider myself very Lucky to have a loving wife, two adorable kids and wonderful, interesting and loyal friends.
So you'll find me writing about all these things, at least.
Oh, yeah, I'll probably post some stuff that may not grab your attention in any way at all. In that case, please check back again or better still, send me note with your suggestions. I'll do my best to keep things interesting.
Feedback helps and I encourage you to leave your comments. It helps to know you're out there, kind Reader, and that you have an opinion about what you see here and are willing to share it.
One last thing before you go: here's where you can find me on Twitter, FaceBook, Google and LinkedIn.
Thanks for stopping by.
Ed Schoaps
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